A CONSTRUCTION company with a North-East heritage has secured a £10 million contract to transform a disused nuclear bunker site in the region.

Esh Construction is to develop a 69-bedroom Travelodge hotel and Lidl retail outlet in Hexham, on behalf of Union Property Development (Hexham) Ltd.

It will transform the former nuclear bunker site and also provide a new 250-space car park for the Northumberland market town.

The 5.5-acre site was bought by Newcastle-based Union Property in October 2018, having remained vacant for almost three decades.

Plans were approved by Northumberland County Council late last year.

Esh will work with FaulknerBrowns Architects, Portland Consulting Engineers and kyoob.

Gary Dobson, Esh Construction divisional director, said: “The scheme has been long in the making and is a great addition to Esh’s portfolio, with over £80m of projects currently underway within our commercial build division.”

Infrastructure works begin in coming weeks.